Thursday, May 14, 2009

I was on my way home from work, and there were tornado 'watches'. I then heard about a tornado touching down in a town near my home. I called home, and Hubs said that he and our house were fine. He also said that I shouldn't have trouble driving, but since I tend to worry, I might want to turn around and go back to the little country store I had just passed.

(c) Misty DawnS - YES, that's my vehicle!!!

So, I turned around (right near the water tower) and went back to the store. I sat there for a little bit and it got really dark, so I decided to go into the store. Once inside, I kept calling Hubs, and he would relay the internet radar images to me. Then the store manager's son (also a volunteer firefighter) pulled in and said "It's on the ground right THERE" and pointed.

(c) Misty DawnS

We ran back inside and went to a back office with no windows. We all huddled on the floor. We heard the hail and the rain, and then we heard the "train" (I always wondered if it really sounds like that - well, trust me, it does). The walls shook and there was a deafening, booming explosion sound, and I thought the building was going to explode. A couple had come in right before it hit, and the guy had his arms around the girl and me, kind of sheltering us (I never even got a chance to tell him thank you). We all just kept repeating to each other "It's OK. We're going to be OK. It's alright. We're going to be fine." And then, it was gone, and it was just raining.

(c) Misty DawnS

I stood up on wobbly legs and called Hubs. I said "It hit us, but I'm OK." He must have thought I was just exaggerating. I walked to the door of the store and said "The Durango's windows are gone." and Hubs asked "WHAT???" I replied, "You thought I was exaggerating when I said it hit us, didn't you." He said "Yeah."

I stood outside watching emergency vehicles fly by, helicopters fly in and out, and law enforcement stopping traffic due to the telephone and power poles/wires laying in the road.

(c) Misty DawnS

Hubs was trying to come pick me up and take me home, but he had a heck of a time getting to me, because the road was closed (you can see why).

A Chevrolet car dealership in Kirksville was completely demolished, along with several houses. The damage is unbelievable and indescribable.

(c) Misty DawnS

On another note, the tornado that touched down in in the town near home killed the wife of a man I know. My heart breaks for him.

I was told that once the tornado which hit us touched down by us, it was a half mile wide. I'm just thankful (and still shaking).

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comments:

Anonymous

So glad you are okay. Your vehicle can be fixed, but it would be hard to replace yourself. Thanks for the photo shoot as I have not been able to find any and been looking for them all day; since, I am in the area. Glad you are fine.M

Sometimes it's hard to journal such painful, terrifying experiences, but I'm glad you decided to photograph it, and tell the story. It made for a one-of-a-kind post. Sure puts all of our smaller problems in perspective doesn't it?

Oh, Misty I'm so glad you are okay. When I saw your Camera Critters post, I realized something big was going on in your world and I needed to scroll down to see what happened. (I haven't blogged since last week, so I missed it.) How frightened you must have been! Stories like this make me grateful for God's protection even amidst the most powerful of storms.

OMG, Misty, that must have been terrifying! And unreal! I am so glad you are ok. And wow, the damage it did...and your poor friend's wife...and half a mile wide?! Woowzers. I'm glad I didn't SEE it. I would have peed in my pants.

Misty, it is good to know that you're ok and your family despite this tragedy. My country used to have typhoons (our version for tornado in trophical country), it is natural calamity that we don't have control.